Type-writer arm



m R NA KR E H R .W BE n WT m d O m Patented Dec. 14, 1 897.

"mi wonms PETERS ca. PHOTO-L UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

WILLIAM BROWVN HOPKINS; OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

TYPE-WRITER ARM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 595,478, dated December 14, 1897.

Application filed April 25, 1896- fierial No. 589,044. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM BRO N Hor- KINS, of Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson, State of Alabama, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Type-WVriter Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my typewriter arm. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are side elevations showing, respectively, the head arranged to print from the first, second, and third types.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction of typewriter arm carrying a plurality of type that are adapted for successive use; and to this end said invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter specified.

In the carrying of my invention into practice I employ an arm A, pivoted to a bracket B. Said arm may beof any desired construction, but, as shown, it consists of two parallel plates which, with the exception of the portions near the pivot, are separated by a slight space. Pivoted between the outer ends of said arm is a segment-shaped block or head 0, to the curved periphery of which is attached aplurality (as shown,three) of equidistaut-type c, c, and 0 Attached to the head 0 is a rod D, that from its point ofconnection (1 therewith extends inward through the space between the arm -plates toward the arm-pivot and at its inner end bears against a lever E, pivoted to the side of the arm. A coiled spring attached at one end to the rod D and at the other end to the arm A operates to yieldingly hold the head in such .position that the type c is in position to print, movement of the head under the pull of the spring being limited to this position by reason of the engagement of the rod D with the lever E and the provision of a stop lug or pin F on the arm A, against which the lever E strikes.

The type-arm'is moved from a vertical to-a horizontal position to print, a rod G, connected to the arm A near its pivot, being used to transmit movement from a suitable key-lever (not shown) for moving the arm to print. The printing position of the type is such that a radial line drawn from the head pivot through the type will be at a right angle to the length of the arm.

To bring either of the two type c and 0 into printing position, there'is pivoted at the side of the arm A and concentric with its pivot a movable plate or abutment H, that has two projections that are placed different distances radially from the pivot of the plate and are adapted in succession to beengaged by the side of the lever E opposite that engaged by the rod D. When the shorter projection only is engaged by the lever E, the latter is moved such amount as to turn the type-head to place the first type 0 out of printing position and the second type c in such position, while when the longer projection is engaged by the lever E such lever is moved far enough to cause such rotation of the head as to put the third type c in printing position in place of the first type 0. Such movements of the leverE by its engagement with the projections on the plate or abutment H are produced by the swinging of the type-arm A to printing position, the said lever E being attached to and moving with the type-arm. When no engagement between the lever and abutment takes place during the swinging of the typearm, there is no movement of the head on its pivot, and hence the first type remains in position to print.

The surface of the lever E, in rear of the point that strikes the abutment projections, is cut away on a curve that is concentric with the arm-pivot, so that after the typehead has been moved by the operation of said lever said curved surface will simply ride over the abutment projection without producing any further movement of the lever. Thus the movement of the head to place a type in printing position will be effected and said head come to a state of rest before the arm A has reached the position for printing.

Any suitable mechanism acting through a rod 1, connected to the abutment H, may be employed to swing the latter into position; but as the same forms no part of my present invention I do not deem it necessary to illus trate or describe the same.

Merely for illustration, but with no intention of being limited thereto or claiming the same as a part of my invention protected herein, I show a plate K, having several notches 7c and 7c in one edge, corresponding in number to the various positions assumed by the abutment II, that are adapted each to engage the red I and through it to fix. or hold the abutment H in its said positions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a type-writer, the combination of the pivoted arm, a type-carrying head pivoted thereto, having a plurality of type, a lever attached to the arm, and an abutment for said lever, swinging on an axis extending in the same direction as the axis of the arm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a type-writer, the combination of the pivoted arm, a type-carrying head pivoted thereto having a plurality of type, a lever attached to and moving with the arm, and an abutment pivoted concentric with the latter and movable into and out of the path of the lever as it moves with the arm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a type-writer, the combination of the pivoted arm, a type-carrying head pivoted thereto, having a plurality of type, a lever attached to and moving with the arm, a rod extending from the lever to the head, an abutment swinging on an axis extending in the same direction as the arm-axis, and a spring attached to the arm and acting to move the head, substantially as and for the purpose described. I

4. In a type-Writer, the combination of the movable arm, a type-carrying head pivoted thereto, having a plurality of type, means for yieldingly holding such head in position to print from one of the type, a lever carried by the arm, connections between the same and the head, and a plate having a number of projections one less than the number of type on the head, that are adapted to be successively placed in position to engage said lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a type-writer, the combination of the pivoted arm, a type-carrying head, pivoted thereto, having a plurality of type, a spring foryieldingly holding such head in position to print from one of the type, a lever carriedv by the arm, connections between the same and the head, and a swinging plate having a number of projections, one less than the number of type on the head, that are diiferent distances, in a radial direction from the axis of the plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM BROIVN HOPKINS. Vitnesses:

R. HOPKINS, W. A. DAwsoN. 

